Investigator,
National Council of Research (CNPq), Ministry of Science
and Technology

E-mail:
wscosta@gmail.com

Waldemar
Silva Costa, B.Sc., Ph.D.

Biologist

Researcher,
Urogenital Research Unit

Morphometry and Quantification

e-mail:
manogallo.c@gmail.com // cmgallo@uerj.br

Carla
Braga Mano Gallo, BSc, Ph.D.

29th
Annual EAU Congress in Stockholm (April - 2014)

-
Best Poster -

Development of the main components of erectile tissue in the human penis
during the fetal period (2nd and 3rd trimesters of gestation)

The
Laboratory for Structure and Ultrastructure of the Urogenital Research
Unit develops its work mainly by means of histochemical, immunohistochemical,
transmission electronic microscopy and scanning electronic microscopy
techniques in prostate, bladder, testicle and penis. The aim is to analyze
the extracellular matrix, smooth muscle and parenchyma of these organs,
performing both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Normal individuals
(adults and fetuses) and the alterations that occur in congenital and
acquired pathologies, benign and malignant, and during development are
specially investigated. The several projects in progress employ: a)
- human tissue samples from surgery, biopsy and necropsy, and b) - experimental
models in animals.

The
physical facilities of the laboratory include: a) Bench space for up
to six graduate and undergraduate students simultaneously; b) Basic
equipment such as double boiler, heaters, bench centrifuge, centrifuge
for microtubes, magnetic shakers and shakers for test tubes, diverse
glassworks and various reagents, automatic pipettes, pHmeter, analytic
balances, microwave oven, pipette washer, deionizer, distiller, potentiometer,
etc.; c) Resources for all histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques,
such as simple microscopes, microscope with polarization, digital photomicroscope;
d) Olympus rotary microtome, all batteries and reagents for histology
and histochemistry; e) all batteries and all antibodies correspondent
to urogenital research with immunohistochemistry; f) Equipment for immunofluorescence,
such as bottles of liquid nitrogen; g) Cryostat and dark room with microscope
for immunofluorescence; h) Equipment for dissection of small sized animals,
such as microsurgical instruments, stereoscopic microscope and optic
fiber; i) Equipment for histomorphometry and stereology, Olympus microscope,
Olympus camera coupled to microscope for image capture, high potency
microcomputer, with specific softwares for morphometry and image analysis,
including software Image Pro Plus, videomicroscopy system with color
camera of image obtainment, coupled with microcomputers; j) Equipment
for transmission electronic microscopy: Leika ultramicrotome with knife
maker, light equipment by optic fiber, unity of block formation for
electronic microscopy, and Zeiss Electronic Transmission Microscope,
M-109 model; h) Scanning Electronic Microscope of low vacuum, LEO-EM
906 model, shared with other Departments of the Biomedical Center.

Ultrastructural Analysis of the Prostate in NFAT1 Gene Knockout Mice
(In
collaboration with the National Cancer Institute).

Prostate
- Histochemical and Immunohistochemical Study of Extracellular Matrix
and Cellular Components in Normal Prostates and in Benign Prostatic
Hyperplasia and Prostate Cancer. Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis
in Humans and Animals

Elastic
Tissue Stereology and Elastin Distribution in Normal Prostates and
in BPH.

Stromal Quantification in Normal Prostate and in BPH.

Acini Quantification and Acinar Epithelium in Normal Prostates and
in BPH.

Stereological Analysis of the Elastic System Fibers in Central and
Peripheral Zone in Normal and Hyperplastic Canine Prostate (In collaboration
with Fluminense Federal University - RJ).

Structural and Morphometric Analysis of the Prostate in NFAT1 Gene
Knockout Mice (In collaboration with the National Cancer Institute).

Testis
and Gubernaculum - Structural and Ultrastructural Analysis of the Gubernaculum
Testis and the Testicle in Adults, Fetuses and Animals

Histochemical
and Immunohistochemical Study of Gubernaculum Testis in Human Fetuses.

Study of the Testicular Gubernaculum in Patients with Cryptorchidism,
Submitted and Not submitted to Pre-surgical Treatment with Chorionic
Gonadotrophin.

Structural and Ultra-structural Study of the Testicular Parenchyma
in Patients with Cryptorchidism.

Optic and Electronic Transmission Microscopy Comparative Analysis
of the Testicles in Young and Old Individuals.

Structural
and Ultrastructural Analysis of the Testis in NFAT1 Gene Knockout
Mice (In collaboration with the National Cancer Institute).

Penis,
Urethra, Foreskin - Structural and Ultrastructural Analysis of the Penis
and Urethra in Adults, Fetuses and Animal Models

Comparative
Analysis of the Penis Corpora Cavernosa in Controls and Patients
with Erectile Dysfunction.

Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Extracellular Matrix Components
in the Rabbit Penis (In collaboration with Fluminense Federal University
- RJ).